Mentoring is crucial in the support of new faculty.

Opportunities and programs for mentees:

Appointed by the dean of each academic college, College Peer Mentors collaborate with the Assistant Provost for Faculty Success to advance the effectiveness and impact of faculty mentoring across the institution and within college contexts. College Peer Mentors create networking opportunities and organize college-specific professional development events.

As we support first-year, tenure-eligible faculty through mentoring, the goal is to ensure successful faculty reviews including preliminary/third-year, promotion, and tenure. In furtherance of this goal and our institutional strategic goals, this program aims to increase faculty retention and success (e.g., promotion, sense of belonging, retention, developing future mentors and leaders).

This program is designed for:

  • early career faculty at the rank of assistant professor (term and tenure-eligible)
  • mid-career faculty at the rank of associate professor (term and tenure-eligible)

As we support early and mid-career faculty through mentoring, the goal is to ensure successful faculty advancement, promotion, and inclusion. In furtherance of this goal and our institutional strategic goals, this initiative seeks to increase faculty retention and success (e.g., promotion and advancement, sense of belonging, developing future mentors and leaders).

    Smile and Write is an online program open to faculty and staff, designed to leverage peer accountability and help carve out space in your schedule to work on your curriculum, manuscripts, and other writing projects. Smile and Write is a great way to connect with peers in all disciplines, working together to accomplish writing goals to aid in your career progression.

    Smile and Write format:

    • Register ahead of time for as many sessions as you want. Upon registration, you will be sent a zoom link to use for each session.
    • Once you have logged in, we ask that your video be turned on. Doing this helps to assure accountability and can keep us from distraction.
    • At the start of each session, we state our goals that we want to accomplish. At the end of each session we take a brief bit of time to share progress made towards those goals.

    Virtual mentoring is provided through Iowa State’s institutional membership in the NCFDD. Resources include weekly “Monday Motivator” emails and webinars on a variety of topics. Activate your sub-membership (PDF).

    The Office of the Vice President for Research also has a curated list of mentoring resources for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and Professional & Scientific Staff and links to other external resources. 

    Resources for mentors:

    The Office of Faculty Success equips mentors with the information and tools needed to increase the impact of faculty mentoring, cultivate effective mentoring practices, and optimize mentoring relationships. Guidance for faculty mentors can be found in this overview (PDF) and the Faculty Mentor Guide (PDF). 

    • exemplary mentors and their mentees at the awards reception

      Exemplary faculty mentor awards

      To acknowledge the critical role that faculty mentoring plays at our institution, the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost seeks to recognize senior colleagues who excel as mentors with our annual Exemplary Faculty Mentor Awards. Mentors who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the success of their mentee(s) are eligible. This award seeks to recognize senior colleagues who have gone above and beyond the usual expectations of a mentor. To nominate your mentor, please follow these instructions.

    For questions or more information, contact: